District 1 State Rep. Gary VanDeaver received two key House committee appointments this week as part of the 84th Texas Legislature. He is serving his first term and representing Franklin, Bowie, Lamar and Red River counties.

On Friday, February 6, a Mount Vernon Elementary School student came to school with a gun in a backpack. Classes were not locked down, police were not notified, and parents were not notified until 7 p.m. that evening.

The Mount Vernon City Council conducted its third executive session in connection with efforts to find an administrator for the city and a executive director for the Mount Vernon Economic Development Corporation.

Registration is now open for anyone wishing to sign up as a candidate for seats on the Mount Vernon ISD Board of Trustees, the Mount Vernon City Council, or the Board of Directors for the Franklin County Water District.